Would this action have dangerous properties, such as setting the black powder off and removing my face? If it is safe, would it be worthwhile? In other words, I hear the smallest grain is best, so if I grind it even smaller would that help much?

most the time black powder just sets on fire but it will occationaly blow up!

Don't listen to that idiot. Grinding it in a mortar and pestle is fine. To be really safe, lightly spray the mortal and pestle with anti-static spray first. As long as the mortar and pestle is marble(or pretty much any non-metal) you should be fine. Just don't use a mortar and pestle with flash.

Also, BP doesn't explode unconfined, no matter how small the mesh is.

I wouldn't even waste my static guard on something as safe as black powder. Also I'd worry more about friction than static but I don't you think you could ignite the BP in the mortar with the pestle even if you tried.

Uhhh... well, If you grind BP in a mortar and pestle, it will become a finer mesh...

Anyways, there is about a 0% chance of your face becomeing a molten blob.

Okay, so it's safe. Will it improve the powder enough to make this worthwhile?

That depends on how fine your bp is in the first place, if it's large and clumpy it will obviously be worthwhile, but if it's already powder don't waste your time powdering it further unless you have a ball mill.

[This message has been edited by RabidGeneral (edited 07-19-2003).]

quote:Originally posted by TheMightyGoat:

Okay, so it's safe. Will it improve the powder enough to make this worthwhile?

It also depends on what you plan on doing with the BP. What mesh size do you need?

If you're making lift powder, you don't want as rapid a burn(smaller mesh size equals more suface area equals faster burn) as if you are making meal powder(very fine).

You can make lift powder from meal powder by adding dextrin..or by one of several other methods. A search will probably net you several methods.